Processes and machines for decorating exterior surfaces of elongated, three-dimensional, discrete articles of manufacture, with decorative indicia and textural patterns.
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1. A process for decorating an article of manufacture, the process comprising:
providing an elongated, three-dimensional, discrete article of manufacture with a longitudinal axis and an exterior surface, which includes an exterior side surface, at least part of which is offset from the longitudinal axis, wherein said exterior side surface comprises a textural pattern-receiving portion of said exterior side surface, and said pattern-receiving portion has a curvature when viewed perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, said article of manufacture further comprising an indicium disposed on the exterior side surface at a particular location;
providing a predetermined textural pattern of raised portions and open areas, to be applied to the exterior side surface;
providing one or more non-contact, linearly arrayed, depositing-on-demand, pattern deposition devices, each of which includes a linear deposition axis, wherein points along the pattern-receiving portion of the exterior side surface of said article of manufacture are in alignment with said linear deposition axis, and said points on said article of manufacture are spaced different distances away from the linear deposition axis when measured perpendicular to said linear deposition axis at different locations along the longitudinal axis of the article of manufacture; and
depositing one or more layers of a material to form the predetermined textural pattern of raised portions on at least a portion of the exterior side surface, by using the one or more pattern deposition devices, while the article rotates around the longitudinal axis and while the one or more pattern deposition devices are stationary with respect to the longitudinal axis, wherein each of the layers is deposited according to a common registration, which is based on the particular location, wherein the raised portions have an overall height of 10-500 microns and are separated by open areas.
22. A process for decorating an article of manufacture, the process comprising:
providing an elongated, three-dimensional, discrete article of manufacture with a longitudinal axis and an exterior surface, which includes an exterior side surface, at least part of which is offset from the longitudinal axis, wherein said exterior side surface comprises a textural pattern-receiving portion of said exterior side surface, and said pattern-receiving portion has a curvature when viewed perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, said article of manufacture further comprising an indicium disposed on the exterior side surface at a particular location;
providing a predetermined textural pattern of raised portions and open areas, to be applied to the exterior side surface;
providing one or more non-contact, linearly arrayed, depositing-on-demand, pattern deposition devices, each of which includes a linear deposition axis, wherein points along the pattern-receiving portion of the exterior side surface of said article of manufacture are in alignment with said linear deposition axis, and said points on said article of manufacture are spaced different distances away from the linear deposition axis when measured perpendicular to said linear deposition axis at different locations along the longitudinal axis of the article of manufacture;
depositing one or more layers of a material that is curable with ultra-violet light to form the predetermined textural pattern of raised portions on at least a portion of the exterior side surface, by using the one or more non-contact pattern deposition devices, while the article rotates around the longitudinal axis and while the one or more pattern deposition devices are stationary with respect to the longitudinal axis, wherein each of the layers is deposited according to a common registration, which is based on the particular location, such that the one or more layers of material do not overlap the indicium, wherein the raised portions have an overall height of 10-500 microns and are separated by open areas; and
pinning at least a portion of each of the layers of the material, after the layer is at least partially deposited, but before depositing any subsequent layer of the material.
23. A process for decorating an article of manufacture, the process comprising:
providing an elongated, three-dimensional, discrete article of manufacture with a longitudinal axis and an exterior surface, which includes an exterior side surface, at least part of which is offset from the longitudinal axis, wherein said exterior side surface comprises a textural pattern-receiving portion of said exterior side surface, and said pattern-receiving portion has a curvature when viewed perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, said article of manufacture further comprising an indicium disposed on the exterior side surface at a particular location;
providing a predetermined textural pattern of raised portions and open areas, to be applied to the exterior side surface in registration with said indicium, wherein said indicium and said predetermined textural pattern are different in type and/or in the processes used to create the indicium and the predetermined textural pattern;
providing a machine for decorating the article of manufacture, said machine comprising:
an indexing sub-assembly, comprising:
at least one article holder, configured to: hold in a fixed relationship, an elongated, three-dimensional, discrete article of manufacture; and rotate an article that is being held; and
at least one angular encoder, configured to detect an angular position of an article that is being held and rotated by the article holder, wherein the indexing sub-assembly is configured to move with an indexing movement within the machine to move the at least one article holder through each of a plurality of indexed positions, including: a registration indexed position with respect to a registration sub-assembly; and a deposition indexed position with respect to a deposition sub-assembly; and
a registration sub-assembly comprising a sensor configured to detect a presence of a feature on an article that is being held by the article holder in the registration indexed position, wherein the registration sub-assembly is mounted to the machine separate from the indexing sub-assembly;
a deposition sub-assembly comprising one or more non-contact, linearly arrayed, depositing-on-demand, pattern deposition devices, each of which is configured to deposit one or more layers of a material onto an exterior side surface of an article that is being held by the article holder in the deposition indexed position and that is being rotated by the article holder, wherein the deposition sub-assembly is mounted to the machine separate from the indexing sub-assembly; and
a controller in communication with the sensor, the angular encoder, and the one or more pattern deposition devices; and the controller is configured to: receive a detection signal from the sensor; receive an angular position from the angular encoder; and to send instructions to the one or more pattern deposition devices, to deposit one or more layers of material in a predetermined textural pattern, onto an exterior side surface of an article that is being held in the deposition position and rotated by the article holder;
providing one or more non-contact, linearly arrayed, depositing-on-demand, pattern deposition devices, each of which includes a linear deposition axis, wherein points along the pattern-receivirg portion of the exterior side surface of said article of manufacture are in alignment with said linear deposition axis, and said points on said article of manufacture are spaced different distances away from the linear deposition axis when measure perpendicular to said linear deposition axis at different locations along the longitudinal axis of the article of manufacture; and
depositing one or more layers of a material to form the predetermined textural pattern of raised portions on at least a portion of the exterior side surface, by using the one or more pattern deposition devices, while the article rotates around the longitudinal axis and while the one or more pattern deposition devices are stationary with respect to the longitudinal axis, wherein each of the layers is deposited according to a common registration, which is based on the particular location, wherein the raised portions have an overall height of 10-500 microns and are separated by open areas.
2. The process of
3. The process of
4. The process of
5. The process of
6. The process of
7. The process of
8. The process of
9. The process of
the providing of the deposition devices includes providing two non-contact, linearly arrayed, depositing-on-demand, pattern deposition devices; and
the depositing includes depositing the one or more layers by using each of the pattern deposition devices, while each of the pattern deposition devices is stationary with respect to the longitudinal axis.
11. The process of
12. The process of
13. The process of
14. The process of
15. The process of
the depositing includes depositing the one or more layers of the material, such that the one or more layers of material do not overlap the indicium;
the providing of the article including providing the article, which includes the indicium, which is disposed within a first part of a particular longitudinal portion of the exterior side surface; and
the depositing includes depositing the one or more layers of the material, within a second part of the particular longitudinal portion of the exterior side surface, which is non-overlapping with the first part.
16. The process of
17. The process of
18. The process of
including, providing an article holder, configured to hold the article in alignment, with respect to at least one of the pattern deposition devices, and configured to rotate the article around the longitudinal axis;
wherein, the providing of the article includes providing the article, while the article is being held by the article holder; and
including, determining the particular location, based on an angular position of the article holder.
19. The process of
applying the indicium on the exterior side surface at the particular location; and
continuously holding the article in a fixed relationship with respect to the article holder, from the applying of the indicium through the depositing of the one or more layers.
20. The process of
21. The process of
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The field of the present application is directed generally toward processes and machines for decorating articles of manufacture and more specifically toward, processes and machines for decorating, with a textural pattern, exterior surfaces of elongated, three-dimensional, discrete articles of manufacture, having indicia on their exterior surfaces.
There are many kinds of articles of manufacture, but some kinds of articles can be challenging to decorate. Discrete articles can be difficult for a machine to handle piece by piece. Decorations can be hard to fit onto complex or curved surfaces. And, elongated articles can require proper orientation in a decoration process. Thus, exterior surfaces of elongated, three-dimensional, discrete articles of manufacture (e.g. mascara packages) can be challenging to decorate.
There are also many ways to decorate articles of manufacture, but some kinds of decorations can be challenging to apply. Contact-type processes (e.g. hot-stamping) that form decorative indicia, call for a heated die and a separate material stream (e.g. the foil). Decorative textural patterns can require complex processing to obtain all-over coverage. And, applying multiple, different decorations to a single article can present registration issues. Thus, the combination of a contact-type decoration and a textural pattern can be challenging to apply to an article of manufacture.
As a result, applying the combination of a contact-type decoration and a textural pattern to elongated, three-dimensional, discrete articles of manufacture, can present a number of difficulties.
However, the processes and machines of the present disclosure can be used to efficiently and effectively obtain elongated, three-dimensional, discrete articles of manufacture having combinations of decorative indicia and textural patterns, as described herein.
A process for decorating an article of manufacture, according to various embodiments of the present disclosure, includes: providing an elongated, three-dimensional, discrete article of manufacture with a longitudinal axis and an exterior surface, which includes an exterior side surface, offset from the longitudinal axis, and an indicium disposed on the exterior side surface at a particular location; providing a predetermined textural pattern of raised portions and open areas, to be applied to the exterior side surface; providing one or more non-contact, linearly arrayed, depositing-on-demand, pattern deposition devices, each of which includes a linear deposition axis; and depositing one or more layers of a material to form the predetermined textural pattern onto at least a portion the exterior side surface, by using the one or more pattern deposition devices, while the article rotates around the longitudinal axis and while the one or more pattern deposition devices are stationary with respect to the longitudinal axis, wherein each of the layers is deposited according to a common registration, which is based on the particular location.
A machine for decorating an article of manufacture, according to various embodiments of the present disclosure, includes: an indexing sub-assembly, including at least one article holder, configured to: hold in a fixed relationship, an elongated, three-dimensional, discrete article of manufacture; rotate an article that is being held; and at least one angular encoder, configured to detect an angular position of an article that is being held and rotated by the article holder; wherein the indexing sub-assembly is configured to move with an indexing movement within the machine to move the at least one article holder through each of a plurality of indexed positions, including: a registration indexed position with respect to a registration sub-assembly; and a deposition indexed position with respect to a deposition sub-assembly; and the registration sub-assembly: including, a sensor configured to detect a presence of a feature on an article that is being held by the article holder in the registration indexed position; wherein the registration sub-assembly is mounted to the machine separate from the indexing sub-assembly; and the deposition sub-assembly: including one or more non-contact, linearly arrayed, depositing-on-demand, pattern deposition devices, each of which is configured to deposit one or more layers of a material onto an exterior side surface of an article that is being held by the article holder in the deposition indexed position and that is being rotated by the article holder; wherein the deposition sub-assembly is mounted to the machine separate from the indexing sub-assembly; and a controller, wherein: the controller is in communication with the sensor, the angular encoder, and the one or more pattern deposition devices; and the controller is configured to: receive a detection signal from the sensor; receive an angular position from the angular encoder; and to send instructions to the one or more pattern deposition devices, to deposit one or more layers of material in a predetermined textural pattern, onto an exterior side surface of an article that is being held in the deposition position and rotated by the article holder.
The present disclosure includes processes and machines for use in efficiently and effectively decorating elongated, three-dimensional, discrete articles of manufacture to have combinations of decorative indicia and textural patterns, as described herein.
A first step 101 of the process 100 includes providing an article of manufacture to be decorated by a machine; the article can be any kind of elongated, three-dimensional, discrete article of manufacture described herein, such as article 210 of
A second step 102 of the process 100 includes providing an indicium to be applied to the article of the first step 101; the indicium can be any kind of indicium described herein, such as indicium 502 of
As used herein, the terms “indicium” and “indicia” refer to one or more of characters, graphics, branding, or other visual elements, of any size, shape, or configuration, in any combination, disclosed herein or known in the art. As used herein, the terms “character” and “characters” refer to one or more visual elements intended to convey information. Examples of characters include one or more of any of the following: letters, numbers, symbols, and the like. As used herein, the terms “graphic” and “graphics” refers to one or more visual elements intended to provide a decoration or to communicate information. Examples of graphics include one or more of any of the following: colors, patterns, designs, images, and the like. As used herein, the term “branding” refers to one or more visual elements intended to distinguish a product from other products. Examples of branding include one of more of any of the following: trademarks, trade dress, logos, icons, and the like.
A third step 103 of the process 100 includes providing a textural pattern to be applied to the article of the first step 101; the textural pattern can be any kind of pattern described herein, such as textural pattern 670 of
A fourth step 104 of the process 100 includes providing a machine for decorating the article of the first step 101 according to the process 100, as disclosed herein. The machine can include one or more parts (e.g. subassemblies) configured for performing the steps 130, 140, 150, 160, 180-1, 180-2, and 139 on the article of the first step 101, as described herein. For example, the machine of the fourth step 104 can be the machine 1204-a of
A fifth step 130 of the process 100 includes loading the article of the first step 101 into the machine of the fourth step 104. The loading of the fifth step 130 can be performed in any manner disclosed herein or known in the art. For example, the loading can be performed as described in connection with the embodiments of
A sixth step 140 of the process 100 includes using the machine of the fourth step 104 to apply to the article of the first step 101, the indicium of the second step 102. The applying of the sixth step 140 can be performed in any manner disclosed herein or known in the art. Optionally, the sixth step 140 can be omitted, and the article provided in the first step 101 can be provided already having an indicium, so an applying step is not necessary.
A seventh step 150 of the process 100 includes using the machine of the fourth step 104 to register the particular location of the indicium of the second step 102, on the article of the first step 101. The registering of the seventh step 150 can be performed in any manner disclosed herein or known in the art. For example, the registering can be performed as described in connection with the embodiments of
An eighth step 160 of the process 100 includes depositing onto the article of the first step 101, the textural pattern of the third step 103. The depositing of the eighth step 160 can be performed in any manner disclosed herein or known in the art, and the textural pattern can be formed from one or more parts and/or one or more layers of material. For example, the depositing can be performed as described in connection with the embodiments of
A ninth step 180-1 of the process 100 includes pinning in place, on the article of the first step 101, the textural pattern deposited in the eighth step 160. While steps of the process 100 can be performed with various timings/orders, the present disclosure particularly contemplates embodiments wherein the pinning of the ninth step 180-1 can begin before the depositing of the eighth step 160 has ended, such that portions of these steps can be performed at overlapping times. The pinning of the ninth step 180-1 can be performed in any manner disclosed herein or known in the art. Optionally, the ninth step 180-1 can be omitted for embodiments in which it is not necessary to pin the deposited textural pattern. And, optionally, in various embodiments, after some or all of the pinning in the ninth step 180-1 has been completed, the depositing of the eighth step 160 can be repeated 165 (as represented by the return arrow), to provide additional deposition(s) to the article of the first step 101. Alternatively, the ninth step 180-1 can be replaced with another kind of post-deposition step, which modifies, treats, enhances, or finalizes the textural pattern deposited in the eighth step 160.
A tenth step 180-2 of the process 100 includes curing, on the article of the first step 101, the textural pattern deposited in the eighth step 160. While steps of the process 100 can be performed with various timings/orders, the present disclosure particularly contemplates embodiments wherein the curing of the tenth step 180-2 can begin before the pinning of the ninth step 180-1 has ended, such that portions of these steps can be performed at overlapping times. The curing of the tenth step 180-2 can be performed in any manner disclosed herein or known in the art. Optionally, the curing step 180-2 can be omitted for embodiments in which it is not necessary to cure the deposited textural pattern. Alternatively, the tenth step 180-2 can be combined with the ninth step 180-1, such that the pinning and the curing are performed as a single seamless step. Also, alternatively, the tenth step 180-2 can be replaced with another kind of post-pinning step, which modifies, treats, enhances, or finalizes the textural pattern pinned in the ninth step 180-1.
An eleventh step 139 of the process 100 includes unloading the article of the first step 101 from the machine of the fourth step 104. The unloading of the eleventh step 139 can be performed in any manner disclosed herein or known in the art. For example, the unloading can be performed by essentially reversing the loading of the fifth step 130, as described in connection with the embodiments of
In various embodiments, the steps of the process 100, can be performed in the order shown in
The article 210 includes a bottom 213 with a flat bottom end 211 formed by one end of the cylindrical shape and a top 218 with a flat top end 219 formed by the other end of the cylindrical shape. The article 210 has an overall length measured linearly, parallel with the longitudinal axis 215, between an outer extent of the top end 219 and an outer extent of the bottom end 211. The article 210 has an exterior surface 213, which includes the outside of the article, including the bottom end 211, the top end 219, and an exterior side surface 214 that is formed by the curved roll face of the cylindrical shape and that is offset from the longitudinal axis 215. The exterior side surface 214 also has an overall length measured linearly, parallel with the longitudinal axis 215, as a largest distance between an outer extent of the exterior side surface 214 at the top 218 and an outer extent of the exterior side surface 214 at the bottom 212. A portion of the exterior surface 213 on the bottom end 211 includes a mechanical feature 211-mf, which is a surface structure suitable for being detected by a sensor, in a registration step, such as the seventh step 150 of
As seen in the view of
In various embodiments, part, parts, or all of the article 210 can be varied by one or more of any alternate and/or additional sizes, shapes, proportions, geometries, and/or structural features, disclosed herein and/or known in the art, in any workable combination, to be an elongated, three-dimensional, discrete article of manufacture with a different overall shape. In particular, it is contemplated that such an article may be only partially cylindrical, having a cylindrical shape over one or more portions of its overall length and/or over one or more portions of its exterior side surface, with other portions having one or more different shapes. In further alternative embodiments, either or both ends of the article 210 can be configured with any convenient shape. In still further alternative embodiments, part, parts, or all of the overall cross-sectional shape of the article 210 can be a continuously rounded shape (e.g. oval, elliptical, etc.) or can be polygonal (triangular, squarish, pentagonal, hexagonal, etc.) with rounded corners or can be one or more other cross-sectional shapes that are symmetrical about a longitudinal axis of the article. In various embodiments, the article 210 can be a primary package for a disposable consumer product, such as a cosmetic product (e.g. mascara).
The article 210, and any of its alternate embodiments, can be suitable for decorating with an indicium and a textural pattern, according to embodiments of the present disclosure.
The article 310 includes a bottom 312 with a flat bottom end 311 formed by the smaller end of the frustoconical shape and a top 318 with a flat top end 319 formed by the larger end of the frustoconical shape. The article 310 has an overall length measured linearly, parallel with the longitudinal axis 315, between an outer extent of the top end 319 and an outer extent of the bottom end 311. The article 310 has an exterior surface 313, which includes the outside of the article, including the bottom end 311, the top end 319, and an exterior side surface 314 formed by the curved roll face of the frustoconical shape and offset from the longitudinal axis 315. The exterior side surface 314 also has an overall length measured linearly, parallel with the longitudinal axis 315, as a largest distance between an outer extent of the exterior side surface 314 at the top 318 and an outer extent of the exterior side surface 314 at the bottom 312. A portion of the exterior surface 313 on the bottom end 311 includes a mechanical feature 311-mf. The mechanical feature 311-mf is illustrated as an inclined, annular-sector-shaped indentation radially angled and disposed on the bottom end 311. The article 310 also includes a body portion 310-b and a cap portion 310-c, wherein the cap portion 310-c can form a removable/replaceable cap, as known in the art.
As seen in the view of
In various embodiments, part, parts, or all of the article 310 can be varied by one or more of any alternate and/or additional sizes, shapes, proportions, geometries, and/or structural features, disclosed herein and/or known in the art, in any workable combination, to be an elongated, three-dimensional, discrete article of manufacture with a different overall shape. In particular, it is contemplated that such an article may be only partially frustoconical, having a frustoconical shape over one or more portions of its overall length and/or over one or more portions of its exterior side surface, with other portions having one or more different shapes. In further alternative embodiments, either or both ends of the article 310 can be configured with any convenient shape. In still further alternative embodiments, part, parts, or all of the overall cross-sectional shape of the article 310 can be a continuously rounded shape (e.g. oval, elliptical, etc.) or can be polygonal (triangular, squarish, pentagonal, hexagonal, etc.) with rounded corners or can be one or more other cross-sectional shapes that are symmetrical about a longitudinal axis of the article. In various embodiments, the article 310 can be a primary package for a disposable consumer product, such as a cosmetic product (e.g. mascara).
The article 310, and any of its alternate embodiments, can be suitable for decorating with an indicium and a textural pattern, according to embodiments of the present disclosure.
The article 410 includes a bottom 412 with a rounded bottom end 411 formed by one end of the cigar-shape and a top 418 with a rounded top end 419 formed by the other end of the cigar-shape. The article 410 has an overall length measured linearly, parallel with the longitudinal axis 415, between an outer extent of the top end 418 and an outer extent of the bottom end 411. The article 410 has an exterior surface 413, which includes the outside of the article, including the bottom end 411, the top end 419, and an exterior side surface 414 formed by the curved roll face of the cigar-shape and offset from the longitudinal axis 415. The exterior side surface 414 also has an overall length measured linearly, parallel with the longitudinal axis 415, as a largest distance between an outer extent of the exterior side surface 414 at the top 418 and an outer extent of the exterior side surface 414 at the bottom 412. A portion of the exterior surface 413 on the bottom end 411 includes a mechanical feature 411-mf. The mechanical feature 411-mf is illustrated as a round protrusion disposed on the bottom end 411. The article 410 also includes a body portion 410-b and a cap portion 410-c, wherein the cap portion 410-c can form a removable/replaceable cap, as known in the art.
As seen in the view of
In various embodiments, part, parts, or all of the article 410 can be varied by one or more of any alternate and/or additional sizes, shapes, proportions, geometries, and/or structural features, disclosed herein and/or known in the art, in any workable combination, to be an elongated, three-dimensional, discrete article of manufacture with a different overall shape. In particular, it is contemplated that such an article may be only partially cigar-shaped, having a cigar-shape over one or more portions of its overall length and/or over one or more portions of its exterior side surface, with other portions having one or more different shapes. In further alternative embodiments, either or both ends of the article 410 can be configured with any convenient shape. In still further alternative embodiments, part, parts, or all of the overall cross-sectional shape of the article 410 can be a continuously rounded shape (e.g. oval, elliptical, etc.) or can be polygonal (triangular, squarish, pentagonal, hexagonal, etc.) with rounded corners or can be one or more other cross-sectional shapes that are symmetrical about a longitudinal axis of the article. In various embodiments, the article 410 can be a primary package for a disposable consumer product, such as a cosmetic product (e.g. mascara).
The article 410, and any of its alternate embodiments, can be suitable for decorating with an indicium and a textural pattern, according to embodiments of the present disclosure.
The indicium 502 is illustrated in
While the article 510 is described above as being based on the article 210, in alternative embodiments, the article 510 can be any elongated, three-dimensional, discrete article of manufacturing suitable for decorating with a textural pattern, as described in connection with the process 100 of
The exterior side surface 614-1f includes a longitudinal centerline 615 that is parallel with a leading edge 622 and a trailing edge 623 and disposed in the center of an overall circumferential dimension 624, described below.
The exterior side surface 614-1f has locations and dimensions that correspond with locations and dimensions of the exterior side surface 514 of the article 510. The exterior side surface 614-1f includes a linear bottom edge 621 that corresponds with the outer extent of the exterior side surface 514 at the bottom 512 of the article 510. The exterior side surface 614-1f includes a linear top edge 628 that corresponds with the outer extent of the exterior side surface 514 at the top 518 of the article 510. The exterior side surface 614-1f includes an overall length 620 measured linearly as a largest distance between the bottom edge 621 and the top edge 628; the overall length 620 corresponds with the overall length of the exterior surface 514 of the article 510.
The exterior side surface 614-1f includes a linear leading edge 622 and a linear trailing edge 623, which are formed by an imaginary parting line on the article 510, parallel with the longitudinal axis 515 and intersecting with the vertical reference axis 517 on the exterior side surface 514 on the side opposite from the indicium 502; in this embodiment, the parting line is simply taken at a convenient location. However, in various embodiments, this parting line can be taken in any workable way, to lay an exterior side surface out flat. The leading edge 622 and the trailing edge 623 are designated as such, to identify their relative order, with respect to a direction of a linear movement 614-m for the exterior side surface 614-1f.
The exterior side surface 614-1f is configured to move with the linear movement 614-1f when the article of manufacture that includes the exterior side surface 614-1f is rotated. That is, when the article 510 is rotated clockwise around its longitudinal axis 515 (when viewed from its top end 519), the exterior side surface 514 experiences rotary movement, which, when the exterior side surface 614-1f is laid out flat, is illustrated as the corresponding linear movement 614-m. The linear movement 614-mf is perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline 615.
The exterior side surface 614-1f includes the overall circumferential dimension 624 measured linearly as a largest distance between the leading edge 622 and the trailing edge 623; the overall length 620 corresponds with the overall length of the exterior surface 514 of the article 510. The exterior side surface 614-1f also includes a meeting edge 626, where an edge of the body portion 510-b meets with an edge of the cap portion 510-c, on the article 510.
The exterior side surface 614-1f also includes an indicium 602, which is the same as the indicium 502 of
The exterior side surface 614-1f is illustrated as laid flat in
The textural pattern 670 of
While the outer extent 677 of the textural pattern 670 is sized to fit substantially all of the available space on the exterior side surface 614-1f, in various embodiments, a textural pattern may be sized to use only some of the available space on an exterior side surface. For example, when only a portion of an exterior side surface is to be decorated, the outer extent 677 can be limited to that portion.
In addition to the open areas 675, the textural pattern 670 also includes other areas without deposited material, to accommodate various features on the exterior side surface 614-1f of
The textural pattern 670 is configured to be applied to the exterior side surface 614-1f of
In a textural pattern, all of the open areas, taken together, can account for varying percentages of the overall area of the textural pattern. For example, the open areas can account for 1-99% of the overall area of the textural pattern, or any integer value from 1-99%, or any range formed by any of the preceding values, in any combination.
The loading sub-assembly 704-p includes an article carrier 732, a bottom portion 733-b of the article holder 733, an angular encoder 736, a top portion 733-t of the article holder 733, and a drive 737. The article carrier 732 includes an open carriage configured to hold the article 710 and to lift the article 710 up or down using lifting mechanism 732-1m.
The bottom portion 733-b of the article holder 733 is configured to receive a bottom 712 of the article 710 into a bottom opening 733-bo, shown in the cut-away view of the bottom portion 733-b. The bottom portion 733-b includes a bottom axle 733-ba, which allows the article 710 to rotate while being held by the article holder 733. In
Though the bottom axle 733-ba is shown as broken (to indicate variable length and the possibility of intermediate components) the bottom axle 733-ba is axially connected to an encoder axle 736-a of the angular encoder 736. The angular encoder 736 includes a connection 736-c to enable the angular encoder 736 to communicate with a controller 705, which can receive a signal from the angular encoder 736 indicating an angular position of the article holder 733, which in turn indicates an angular position of the article 710 being held by the article holder 733. In various embodiments, an angular encoder can be configured to read an angular position of the article holder 733 or the article 710 without requiring an axial connection, as will be understood by one skilled in the art.
The top portion 733-t of the article holder 733 is configured with a nose end 733-tn to at least partially enter the circular recessed area 719-i in the top 718 of the article 710, as illustrated with the partially cut away top 718 of the article 710. The top portion 733-t includes a top axle 733-ta, which allows the article 710 to rotate while being held by the article holder 733. In
Though the top axle 733-ta is shown as broken (to indicate variable length and the possibility of intermediate components) the top axle 733-ta is axially connected to a drive axle 737-a of the drive 737. The drive 737 includes a connection 737-c to enable the drive 737 to communicate with a controller 705, which can send a signal to the drive 737 with instructions for rotating the article holder 733, which in turn rotates the article 710 being held by the article holder 733. In various embodiments, a drive can be configured to rotate the article holder 733 or the article 710 without requiring an axial connection, as will be understood by one skilled in the art.
The pinning sub-assembly 1081-p also has light shields, which include inner light shields 1086 and outer light shields 1087 on each side of the pinning light source 1081. Each of the inner light shields 1086 has an extended leg 1086-1, which extends from the body of the pinning light source 1081 toward the article 1010 and terminates at a distal end that is disposed just offset from the exterior side surface 1014. Each of the outer light shields 1087 also has an extended leg 1087-1, which extends from the body of the pinning light source 1081 toward the article 1010 and terminates at its distal end with an optional foot 1087-f that is substantially perpendicular to the extended leg 1087-1 and disposed just offset from the exterior side surface 1014. The light shields 1086 and 1087 are configured to at least help prevent light from the pinning light source 1081 from reaching the linear array 1063 of the deposition device 1062, since such light exposure may damage the emitters in the linear array 1063.
However, the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to this particular combination of machine, process, and article. Any of the embodiments of machines described herein can be used to perform any of the embodiments of decorating processes described herein on any elongated, three-dimensional, discrete articles of manufacture described herein or known in the art, in any workable combination. As a result, embodiments of the present disclosure can be used in efficiently and effectively decorating elongated, three-dimensional, discrete articles of manufacture to have combinations of decorative indicia and textural patterns, as described herein.
As used herein, the term “nearly” modifies a particular value, by referring to a range equal to the particular value, plus or minus five percent (+/−5%). For any of the embodiments disclosed herein, any disclosure of a particular value (or any quantitative or qualitative description, which can be modified by a term of approximation), can, in various alternate embodiments, also be understood as a disclosure of a range equal to approximately that particular value (i.e. +/−5%).
As used herein, the term “substantially” modifies a particular value, by referring to a range equal to the particular value, plus or minus ten percent (+/−10%). For any of the embodiments disclosed herein, any disclosure of a particular value (or any quantitative or qualitative description, which can be modified by a term of approximation), can, in various alternate embodiments, also be understood as a disclosure of a range equal to approximately that particular value (i.e. +/−10%).
As used herein, the term “approximately” modifies a particular value, by referring to a range equal to the particular value, plus or minus fifteen percent (+/−15%). For any of the embodiments disclosed herein, any disclosure of a particular value (or any quantitative or qualitative description, which can be modified by a term of approximation), can, in various alternate embodiments, also be understood as a disclosure of a range equal to approximately that particular value (i.e. +/−15%).
As used herein, the term “about” modifies a particular value, by referring to a range equal to the particular value, plus or minus twenty percent (+/−20%). For any of the embodiments disclosed herein, any disclosure of a particular value (or any quantitative or qualitative description, which can be modified by a term of approximation), can, in various alternate embodiments, also be understood as a disclosure of a range equal to about that particular value (i.e. +/−20%).
The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as “40 mm” is intended to mean “about 40 mm.”
Every document cited herein, including any cross referenced or related patent or application and any patent application or patent to which this application claims priority or benefit thereof, is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety unless expressly excluded or otherwise limited. The citation of any document is not an admission that it is prior art with respect to any invention disclosed or claimed herein or that it alone, or in any combination with any other reference or references, teaches, suggests or discloses any such invention. Further, to the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the same term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assigned to that term in this document shall govern.
While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention.
Cassoni, Robert Paul, Allen, Matthew Richard
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